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Topic Review (Newest First)

12-09-2007 10:33 AM

russlaferrera

Quote:

Originally Posted by garyroushkolb

I use a dry-cleaning solvent from Barsol Solvents that doesn't have a strong smell and cleans as well as anything I have found. I also add some water in also that is below the pickup level and this helps trap the trash an also keeps the level high so you don't have to add so much solvent. Comes in a 30 gallon barrel. I got tired of smelling like a truck stop after I used the solvent tank.

How much per Gallon? Where did you get it? Russ

12-09-2007 08:56 AM

garyroushkolb

Parts cleaner

I use a dry-cleaning solvent from Barsol Solvents that doesn't have a strong smell and cleans as well as anything I have found. I also add some water in also that is below the pickup level and this helps trap the trash an also keeps the level high so you don't have to add so much solvent. Comes in a 30 gallon barrel. I got tired of smelling like a truck stop after I used the solvent tank.

12-03-2007 08:38 AM

sonicweb

Parts Cleaner

As a suggestion, I have not used it in a parts cleaner, however I use it religiously for degreasing and general cleaning. If you use it straight, it just eats grease. Diluting it with water makes a super strong cleaner (enough to remove paint markings inside the car like from the labeled buttons, as I have done this already to a brand new car!) It's called Castrol Super Clean or Super Purple Cleaner (walmart and other places sell it for about 3 bucks a gallon) it's non-flammable, water soluble and will not ruin your lungs or skin (it does make your skin feel really weird after a while). I used it to degrease an engine by hand, use it to pressure wash my El Camino frame, pressure washed my 1955 236 inline 6. (photos of these in my project journal) It works great. Might want to try it. Been planning on either buying a parts washer or building one out of an old stainless kitchen/bar sink, and an old small service style oil/grease can. Give it a shot, they sell the stuff in gallon jugs (like antifreeze bottles or spray bottles) Just don't use it on anything that has painted lettering in your vehicle. Spot check it on paint as well if you don't want the paint removed!

12-01-2007 04:12 PM

Dugg

Twenty-five bucks a gallon? That's what my after shave costs and I do buy it in drums.

Simple Green is good for de-coking the fuel nozzle in your Bell Jet Ranger.

12-01-2007 01:21 PM

dwdw

What! nobody uses the old standby of kerosene or diesel fuel with the mineral spirits? Works for me and it doesn't evaporate real fast.
I used a product called Uni-source 990, It was the best! you could run electric motors submersed in it to clean out the crap inside. $25 a gallon in 55 gallon barrels.
jm2cents.
dwdw

11-30-2007 10:42 PM

ford2go

I don't know this from personal experience,
BUT

another forum that I lurk at suggests Simple Green as something to try.

From all I can tell, it's non toxic. I've read quite a few good reports.

ford2go

11-30-2007 09:06 AM

oldred

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dugg

. It was a shot at trying to jack the price of spirits.

Actually the companies are not to blame on this one as it was not so much a price scheme (not that they are not guilty of doing that! ) but was a mandate from the EPA to meet air polution regulations for paint thinners. That oily residue does not evaporate but will still thin the paint somewhat thus there will be less solvent evaporated into the atmosphere, at least that's the idea. With paints that are required to use a mineral spirit based thinner it is better to use the 100% spirits and leave the "thinner" on the shelf, you will save a few bucks and get a better product.

11-30-2007 08:36 AM

Dugg

Mineral spirits here.

Stoddard Solvent (fuzzy memory right now... insufficient caffeine ingestion this AM) is recommended for parts washers, but it's nothing more than mineral spirits with an additive to raise the flash point. I think this is what Safety Clean uses or did use.

I made my parts washer out of a 55 gal drum cut in half and a 20 gal drum for the spirits. Near the top of the 20 gal drum I welded in some tabs to support a metal screen on top of which I threw some old rags to help filter out the bigger chunks. Periodically I throw the dirty rags out on the driveway to dry out and then toss.

About a year ago, the chemical manufactures decided to create a new product called Paint Thinner that was not 100% mineral spirits. They then offered two products; Mineral Spirits and Paint Thinner, the thinner having an oily residue compared to spirits. It was a shot at trying to jack the price of spirits. It apparently didn't work as I see paint thinner is back to being 100% spirits, but still spendy.

my 20GL parts cleaner holds 12 gallons. I bought parts cleaner at a local farm /tractor store, it works good but was $29 or $35 a 5 gal can. I might try mineral sperits next time. but mineral spirits comes in 5gal buckets, I think even at wal mart.

11-13-2007 04:46 PM

oldred

Mineral spirits should be easy to find, most any hardware store, paint store or even Wall-Mart has it. If you want it delivered you might try Tractor Supply or Northern Tool (they should have Varsol or similar) and they can UPS it to you.

11-13-2007 04:40 PM

Don Lyon

Solvent for parts washer

Okay folks, I have a 20 gal. parts washer that was given to me, where can I get Varsol or mineral spirits in large quanities? Keep in mind I'm out in the "boonies" and dont get to the village often . thanks in advance.

11-13-2007 04:34 PM

oldred

The best cleaner I have used is a solvent called Novasol but that stuff may be hard to find and is quite hazardous to use. It does work really good but chemical gloves plus face and eye protection is a MUST not just a good idea. It will clean some serious crud but it will also cause some serious chemical burns if improperly used, it can be safely used but it is not something you would want to get careless with. If anyone wants to use this type of solvent it might be found at some industrial supply stores.

11-13-2007 12:25 PM

jcclark

Mineral spirits, and if you let it sit long enough,
all the crud settles out and you can pour off the clear spirits
that's clean as new.

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